Douglass HS, community step up efforts to recruit students

There are no plans to close the building, but the school is working hard to meet Chicago Public Schools’ enrollment request – and then some, Principal Vanessa Dereef said.

Douglass has seen its enrollment shrink to roughly 150 students; the building’s capacity is just over a 1,000. Dereef said the school has some recruitment efforts in the works, including reaching out to the parents of elementary schoolchildren in the area.

“We’ve been charged by Chicago Public Schools to recruit 100 freshman to prove our viability and sustainability,” said Dereef, speaking at a community meeting held Wednesday at Columbus Park Refectory about how to attract more students.

An alumni picnic scheduled for later this month will look to attract new families and students, Dereef said. CPS students go back to school Sept. 5.

Without an influx of new students, Douglass’ future beyond 2018 remains uncertain. The five-year moratorium on closing schools that CPS put in place in 2013 ends next June.

Some 50 schools, including four in Austin, were shuttered in 2013. Douglass escaped that fate and has shown improvements since, said Dereef, who started as principal that same year.

The school’s quality performance rating – based on CPS’ three-tier grading system on such things as test scores and attendance – has gone from a Level 3 to a Level 2, with 3 being the lowest rating, Dereef said.

That progress, she said, included expanding class subjects and co-curricular activities for students, as well as improved training for staff in restorative justice and conflict resolution for students.

Douglass, she added, is offering new subjects, such as a forensic science course, and expanding existing ones, such as computer science.

Douglass’ recruitment drive and future was a main topic at Wednesday’s 29th Ward monthly meeting hosted by Ald. Chris Taliaferro.

Residents at the meeting stressed that while the school is in danger of closing without new students, the school is open and ready to accept students this fall.

Taliaferro said the school’s recruitment push will be a citywide effort.

“There may be some requirements imposed by the city that Douglass needs to do to remain open; we have to talk about what we can do to make sure that happens,” the alderman said.

One possible complication in increasing Douglass’ enrollment is Noble Charter School’s planned expansion at one of its Austin schools, Taliaferro and others noted.

ITW David Speer Academy announced last spring its plan to expand its building – enrollment. The Belmont-Cragin charter school is located in the 37th Ward; Ald. Emma Mitts has not expressed support for the expansion.

In a statement given to Chicago Tonight, Mitts said such an expansion would “further deplete and redirect precious limited resources in an already inequitably-funded educational system.”

Taliaferro expressed a similar view Wednesday.

He said Noble officials have promised not to recruitment or enroll students from the 29th Ward. Still, Taliaferro said he opposes the expansion because it will create a ripple effect with enrollment at other schools.

“If they expand, they’re going to pull from Prosser. Prosser’s going to pull from Austin [High School]. Austin’s going to pull from Michele Clark and Michele Clark’s going to pull from Douglass. And what ends up happening is, we lose a school,” he said.

The recently-approved school funding bill, which the General Assembly approved last week, is designed to help the state’s most struggling schools, Lilly said.

The bill would fund Illinois’ school districts – some 860 – based on how much money each needs to educate their respective students. Each district’s take from local property taxes, as well as money each is already getting from the state, will be part of the new funding formula.

The bill now awaits action from Gov. Bruce Rauner, who said he will veto the legislation, calling it a bail out for CPS.

Residents at Wednesday’s meeting were encouraged to call the governor’s office to voice their support of the legislation.

Less than 100 residents of the 29th and 37th Wards have cast their ballots in the March 20 primary. Early voting can be done at a Downtown site through March 4, then at a few Austin locations starting March 5.

Less than 100 residents of the 29th and 37th Wards have cast their ballots in the March 20 primary. Early voting can be done at a Downtown site through March 4, then at a few Austin locations starting March 5.

Ald. Chris Taliaferro will host the Feb. 7th meeting from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Columbus Park Refectory, 5701 W. Jackson Blvd. Victoria Vann of the Illinois Housing Development Authority will be a guest at the monthly get together.

State Sen.Kimberly Lightford, state Rep. La Shawn Ford and Ald. Emma Mitts shared their thoughts about how the Chicago City Council and Illinois General Assembly are addressing sexual harassment that they say has troubled female legislators, staffers and lobbyists for far too long.

About AustinTalks

The Austin community, home to nearly 100,000 people, is rich in diversity, culture and life. AustinTalks seeks to reflect this richness and provide residents of Chicago's most-populated neighborhood with news and information not available anywhere. Help us make this a meeting place that showcases all Austin has to offer. Share your tips and questions; we'll share your stories.

Recent Comments

“State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford (D-Chicago) issued this statement after Gov.-elect Rauner announced additional members of his transition team:…”